Modifications to the Air Force Cycle Ergometry Protocol: Impact on Pass, Fail,and Invalid Outcomes

摘要

Two modifications of the current Air Force cycle ergometry assessment protocol(ProtA) were compared to determine if invalid outcomes could be decreased. The first (ProtB) added a minute to the three workload (WL) progression stages, allowing more time to achieve a steady state. The second (ProtC) decreased the heart rate (HR) range for an increase in WL by 10 beats to make it more rigorous to increase the WL (a major cause of invalid outcomes). Ninety-three service members completed all three assessments, which were performed in a random order. ProtA had a pass rate of 60%, a fail rate of 8%, and an invalid rate of 32%. ProtB significantly reduced invalid outcomes and, therefore, increased the pass rate (pass = 73%, fail = 7%, and invalid = 20%). ProtC increased the pass rate to 66%, decreased the invalid rate to 26%, but was not significantly different than either ProtA or ProtB. VO2max scores between the protocols were not different. Decreased invalid outcomes in ProtB appear to result from a lower WL, which reduced the HR. The modified protocols reduced, but did not eliminate, invalid outcomes. Further research into a more automated system and/or more robust submaximal CE protocols is encouraged.